Iranian President helicopter crashes in mountainous area

A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raissi had to make an emergency “hard landing” in a mountainous and rural area close to the Iran-Azerbaijan border on May 19, 2024. Due to cloudy weather, emergency services were unable to reach the site.

Raissi had earlier met with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliev to participate in the inauguration of a dam on the Araxe River near the Iranian prefecture of Khoda Afarin. The incident occurred as the return trip to Tabriz, where Raissi was scheduled to visit an oil refinery, was underway.

Three helicopters were part of the presidential convoy. Only one had to make the emergency landing; the other two helicopters continued their journey without issues. According to footage of the visit recorded hours before the incident, the helicopter involved seems to have been a Bell UH-1N Twin Huey.

Various Iranian media outlets reported that Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian, East Azerbaijan Governor Malik Rahmati, and other officials were also on board the helicopter. The landing reportedly occurred near the Dizmar forest, which is difficult to access due to its rugged terrain.

Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi confirmed the incident on television, mentioning that the weather impeded rescue efforts.

A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raissi had to make an emergency “hard landing” in a mountainous and…

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